Thanks. Yes, I'm sure everyone is different. My surgeon said he was operating on me for 3 hours, it was long and deep and going around bones and inside of bones. I'm in good physical shape, go to the gym every day, walk on the beach every day - the people in the hospital noticed my fitness and said it would help me. I know it helped me post surgery - I used my quads to get in and out of chairs for example. Some people opt for a second surgery to take the screws out after the bones have knit together (I don't know whether the metal box can be removed or not). I will just keep my titanium screws rather than have my back opened up again.
Peggy